Scarey!

kay

So what kind of snake is it? One of the cats brought one just like this to the backdoor a couple of weeks ago. I'd never seen one of these in our area before.

I hate snakes.

It's a garter snake. Harmless. I dig snakes!

It is a Big snake.

It's called around here a "Gopher snake". It was quite aggressive and I'm glad it was still small, as while not poisonous, it does have teeth. Anyway we moved it next door to our non-pet owner neighbors yard. We will generously give him the benefit of having one in HIS garden when it grows up. If you watch the video attached you can hear the hissing noise they make. Sounds like a rattlesnake. I don't have a phobia about snakes but, like all wild things, I show any snake a healthy regard and keep my distance........Maryl

Large Gopher Snake attack (2 minute video)

Garter snakes have found to emit a neurotoxin which is not harmful to humans. The snake needs to chew on its victim to distribute the poison. They eat lots of things like voles. They are found in much of the eastern and southern U.S.

The Gopher snake is a close relative of the Bull Snake and will aggressively defend itself if harassed or threatened. I really think your snake is a Checkered Garter snake. See this video:

Ed: Thanks for the input. It got me to thinking. I called the Oklahoma Wildlife department and sent them my pictures. They have identified my snake as the Texas Brown Snake. Neither the Gopher Snake nor the Checkered Garter Snake are in our area, but the TBS is relatively common. The pattern on the top of the head and the muted back stripe all fit. Since I started this slinky journey I've discovered how much some snakes look alike.....Maryl

Texas Brown Snake site sent by OWD.

I am terrified of all snakes,and kill every one I see if I c an find some thing to do it with.They just need to stay awayt from me as far as they can and we both will be happy.

jean

I had a big 6 ft. black snake get in my utility room, where one wall was all windows and I raised finches of all kinds and Had 3 finch cages hanging on one wall, with a pair finches plus their 2 babies in it.Also my back door was in their to go outside,and one night I went out the door to bring a garbage sack out, and when I came back in,I walked past the cage and up some steps to the kitchen, but,while going up the steps,I thought I seen some thing move from the corner. f my eye as Iwent up the stepsI turned around to look and this snake was coiled up sitting on top of the bird cage.I got my son's pellet pistol.Had no pellets for it, but had a few BB"s and shot at it with that to run it off the cage..It had ate the babies.Never figured out how that big fat snake got in the cage,when the wires was only a quarter inch apart.Couldn't find where the snake went to, but,half hr later went back to check on 2 more cages with birds,and that snake was sitting on top of another cage.. I got it of the cage, then brought both cages inside where it couldn't get them.next day I gave my birds away to a friend.wasnt going to let no snake get the rest of them..Then a couple days later,I killed a huge black snake close to my back door.

jean

Glad to know it's only a garter snake. I accidentally chopped one up while mowing grass last week. Before now, we've only had the black and yellow garter snakes.

Our cats killed a small snake in our garage a couple of weeks ago my DH tells me (I didn't go out to look). Probably another Texas Brown Snake since they seem common around here now......The other day on the local news they warned people about all the snakes that are coming out of the ground because of this flooding situation. Be careful Jean and look where you put your hands in the garden until it dries up. Lots of Rattlers in Arkansas......I'd not make a point of killing one, but am ambivalent about running across them in my garden. I bet you had mixed feelings also Debra....Maryl